the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第33章
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declining in his health； and requested of me that； in case of his death；
which he apprehended not far distant； I would take home his son； then but
ten years of age； and bring him up to the printing business。 This I
accordingly perform'd； sending him a few years to school before I took
him into the office。 His mother carried on the business till he was grown
up； when I assisted him with an assortment of new types； those of his
father being in a manner worn out。 Thus it was that I made my brother
ample amends for the service I had depriv'd him of by leaving him so
early。
In 1736 I lost one of my sons； a fine boy of four years old； by the
small…pox； taken in the common way。 I long regretted bitterly； and still
regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation。 This I mention for the
sake of parents who omit that operation； on the supposition that they
should never forgive themselves if a child died under it； my example
showing that the regret may be the same either way； and that； therefore；
the safer should be chosen。
Our club； the Junto； was found so useful； and afforded such
satisfaction to the members； that several were desirous of introducing their
friends； which could not well be done without exceeding what we had
settled as a convenient number； viz。； twelve。 We had from the beginning
made it a rule to keep our institution a secret； which was pretty well
observ'd； the intention was to avoid applications of improper persons for
admittance； some of whom； perhaps； we might find it difficult to refuse。 I
was one of those who were against any addition to our number； but；
instead of it； made in writing a proposal； that every member separately
should endeavor to form a subordinate club； with the same rules respecting
queries； etc。； and without informing them of the connection with the Junto。
The advantages proposed were； the improvement of so many more young
citizens by the use of our institutions； our better acquaintance with the
general sentiments of the inhabitants on any occasion； as the Junto
member might propose what queries we should desire； and was to report
to the Junto what pass'd in his separate club； the promotion of our
particular interests in business by more extensive recommendation； and
the increase of our influence in public affairs； and our power of doing
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
good by spreading thro' the several clubs the sentiments of the Junto。
The project was approv'd； and every member undertook to form his
club； but they did not all succeed。 Five or six only were compleated； which
were called by different names； as the Vine； the Union； the Band； etc。 They
were useful to themselves； and afforded us a good deal of amusement；
information； and instruction； besides answering； in some considerable
degree； our views of influencing the public opinion on particular occasions；
of which I shall give some instances in course of time as they happened。
My first promotion was my being chosen； in 1736； clerk of the
General Assembly。 The choice was made that year without opposition； but
the year following； when I was again propos'd （the choice； like that of the
members； being annual）； a new member made a long speech against me； in
order to favour some other candidate。 I was； however； chosen； which was
the more agreeable to me； as； besides the pay for the immediate service as
clerk； the place gave me a better opportunity of keeping up an interest
among the members； which secur'd to me the business of printing the
votes； laws； paper money； and other occasional jobbs for the public； that；
on the whole； were very profitable。
I therefore did not like the opposition of this new member； who was a
gentleman of fortune and education； with talents that were likely to give
him； in time； great influence in the House； which； indeed； afterwards
happened。 I did not； however； aim at gaining his favour by paying any
servile respect to him； but； after some time； took this other method。
Having heard that he had in his library a certain very scarce and curious
book； I wrote a note to him； expressing my desire of perusing that book；
and requesting he would do me the favour of lending it to me for a few
days。 He sent it immediately； and I return'd it in about a week with another
note； expressing strongly my sense of the favour。 When we next met in the
House； he spoke to me （which he had never done before）； and with great
civility； and he ever after manifested a readiness to serve me on all
occasions； so that we became great friends； and our friendship continued
to his death。 This is another instance of the truth of an old maxim I had
learned； which says； 〃He that has once done you a kindness will be more
ready to do you another； than he whom you yourself have obliged。〃 And it
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shows how much more profitable it is prudently to remove； than to resent；
return； and continue inimical proceedings。
In 1737； Colonel Spotswood； late governor of Virginia； and then
postmaster…general； being dissatisfied with the conduct of his deputy at
Philadelphia； respecting some negligence in rendering； and inexactitude of
his accounts； took from him the commission and offered it to me。 I
accepted it readily； and found it of great advantage； for； tho' the salary was
small； it facilitated the correspondence that improv'd my newspaper；
increas'd the number demanded； as well as the advertisements to be
inserted； so that it came to afford me a considerable income。 My old
competitor's newspaper declin'd proportionably； and I was satisfy'd
without retaliating his refusal； while postmaster； to permit my papers
being carried by the riders。 Thus he suffer'd greatly from his neglect in due
accounting； and I mention it as a lesson to those young men who may be
employ'd in managing affairs for others； that they should always render
accounts； and make remittances； with great clearness and punctuality。 The
character of observing such a conduct is the most powerful of all
recommendations to new employments and increase of business。
I began now to turn my thoughts a little to public affairs； beginning；
however； with small matters。 The city watch was one of the first things
that I conceiv'd to want regulation。 It was managed by the constables of
the respective wards in turn； the constable warned a number of
housekeepers to attend him for the night。 Those who chose never to attend
paid him six shillings a year to be excus'd； which was suppos'd to be for
hiring substitutes； but was； in reality； much more than was necessary for
that purpose； and made the constableship a place of pro
